CHAPTER 62: BARGAINING CHIP

"No! I didn’t agree to this!"

Jasmine shot up from her seat, uncrossing her legs with a sharp motion as she glared at the property agent. "I’m the owner of this house! Who gave her the right to sell it?"

Daisy didn’t even flinch. Leaning casually against the doorframe, she gave her mother a slow, bored glance.

"Sorry to break it to you," she said, her voice dripping with indifference, "but it’s under my name too. Surprise, isn’t it?"

"Then doesn’t it need both of our consent? Not just yours," Jasmine snapped, clearly not backing down.

"Sure," Daisy said coolly. "If you don’t want to sell the house to settle some of the debt, I’ll just transfer the responsibility of dealing with the creditors to you. Sounds good?"

"Why?! That’s not fair! I’m your mother!" Jasmine shouted, her voice cracking with anger.

Daisy gave a cold laugh. "Ah, there it is... the classic ’I’m your mom’ card. Funny how things are only unfair when they happen to you. What about me?"

Jasmine kept blabbering, her voice growing shrill as she tried to defend herself.

"You think I didn’t do my part? I gave you a home, paid for everything, made sure you had what you needed! I worked so hard for this family... you have no idea how much I sacrificed!"

Daisy raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

"Right. You mean Maria worked hard. She’s the one who fed me, picked me up from school, and stayed up when I was sick."

She let out a dry chuckle. "You just signed the cheques and called it parenting."

Jasmine’s mouth opened, but no words came out.

"Look," Daisy continued, her voice now calm but cold. "I don’t want to argue anymore. I’ll sell you my share of the house." She took a step closer, meeting her mother’s eyes. "So pay me."

Jasmine’s face twisted. "I don’t have any money! Just because you have some, you think you can play me like this?!"

Daisy let out a quiet breath, almost a laugh.

"Play you?" she repeated softly. "Isn’t that what you’ve been doing all your life? Using people, acting like the victim when things don’t go your way?"

She tilted her head. "You don’t have money? Then maybe don’t pretend you’re the one who kept this family afloat."

"Miss..." the property agent cut in, glancing nervously between them. "I’m sorry, but I can’t wait any longer. The buyer said if she doesn’t get an answer by today, she’ll walk away."

"I’m selling," Daisy said firmly.

"I’m not selling!" Jasmine snapped at the exact same moment.

The room fell silent for a beat, the two voices clashing like a cold slap in the air.

The agent blinked, clearly thrown off.

"Uh... well, maybe the two of you can discuss it and get back to me," she said, voice awkward as she fidgeted with the strap of her bag.

"I’ll just... step out for now."

Without waiting for a reply, she quickly gathered her things and made a quiet but speedy exit, leaving the mother and daughter alone in the thick, uncomfortable silence.

"Say whatever you want. I’m selling this house." Daisy finally turned her gaze back to Jasmine, eyes cold. "And you have no say in it. Not when you owe me ten thousand and a slap in the face."

Jasmine’s face paled slightly, her mouth opening like she wanted to argue, but no words came out.

"You remember that, right?" Daisy added, voice laced with bitterness. "Or are we pretending that never happened too?"

"I—I didn’t know the loan shark would go that far—" Jasmine stammered.

"But they did." Daisy’s voice dropped, sharp and cold.

She reached up and touched her neck lightly.

"They choked me. Right here."

Then she stepped closer, gaze unwavering.

"Want to see the bruise? I’m pretty sure it’s still there."

Jasmine took an instinctive step back, her expression wavering between guilt and fear.

Daisy let out a dry, humorless chuckle.

"But hey," she said, tilting her head slightly, "at least I’m still glad you didn’t sell me."

She smirked, but there was no warmth in it, only layers of sarcasm and old wounds. "What a merciful mother."

The silence stretched when Jasmine didn’t respond.

Daisy let out a slow breath.

"So, that’s final. I’m selling this house. There are still a few million left to settle, but I’ll clear them one by one."

She turned to leave, voice steady but firm.

"Your task is to go back to your family. And please, don’t look for me again. From this moment on, you and I... we don’t have a relationship anymore."

She turned, heading for the door where the agent waited outside.

But before she could reach it, a hand grabbed her arm.

Daisy turned over her shoulder just as Jasmine dropped to her knees.

"Help me... please..." Jasmine’s voice cracked, thick with panic. "I can’t go back to my family. And that ten thousand you gave me... I gave it to them. I thought it would help, but they said they’re in a tight spot too. They asked me for another twenty thousand just to accept me back. Daisy—"

"No." Daisy’s voice was sharp, cutting through her mother’s plea. Her eyes widened, jaw tightening as the realization hit. "Don’t tell me..."

She took a step back, her voice rising. "You borrowed money from that loan shark again?!"

Jasmine bowed lower, her forehead nearly touching the floor.

"After you left yesterday... I—I went to them again. I begged. I asked them to lend me more..."

"Mom!" Daisy shouted, her voice trembling, not just with anger, but something close to disbelief.

"How could you? After everything... after what they did to me!"

She took a shaky breath, her voice cracking.

"I can still feel their hands around my neck, Mom. I almost passed out!"

Her hands balled into tight fists at her sides.

"Do you even care? Or am I just some... some bargaining chip to you? Something to trade for money when you’re desperate?"

Jasmine still didn’t look up. The silence that followed felt heavier than anything Daisy had said.